Good movie except…
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Marvel/DC
xstrym — 12 years ago(March 07, 2014 02:51 AM)
My biggest gripe about this sequel is that it really isn't fitting of Agent J. For example:
In MIB, James was running aliens down on foot, jumping from bridges onto buses, etc. He had his wits about him. While they did raz him about his youth with catchy nicknames (which he expressly forbade them to do, which just makes people want to do it all-the-more = funny) he was very competent albeit inexperienced within MIB HQ.
In MIIB, we see an agent that has been on the job for 5 years, pretty much runs the place, if not in title but in symbol. MIB HQ obviously respects him as he converses with co-workers and "visitors" alike. But a sequel is supposed to show how the characters developed over time, which MIIB did for "J"
at the beginning
. MIIB showed that he implemented new procedures, took responsibility and was an all-around go-to guy of the HQ
Now enter "K". As soon as K shows up, J falls back into this bumbling rookie routine that was NEVER befitting of "J" or James character. He did make some quick decisions in the first one that got him into some tepid water, but again - inexperience.
In fact, this movie is basically 2 parts unto itself. BK & AK. Before "K" showed up J was competent, confident and essentially the lead field agent. After "K" showed up, someone "flipped a switch" and said, "Okay, now start acting like you have no clue what you are doing when you are around "K". We promise, it will be funny." Then he slowly drifted into some kind regression to a past that seems to have been BEFORE joining the NYPD. Certainly before the original MIB flick.
In the 2nd half of MIIB we see him get confused, scammed, lied-to, belittled and act like a child. James or original MIB "J" wouldn't allow himself to get caught up in all of those situations. He was progressive, street smart and a troubleshooter (not a first week rookie at police academy).
Was all of the razzing necessary toward Agent J in MIIB? While most of it felt contrived, why mess with a sure thing. Was all of the blatant Agent J "rookie-ism" necessary to move the story along? I don't think so.
That's always been my main gripe about the sequel. I first spotted it back in it's theatrical release days, but only recently had the chance to re-watch it. The same bumbling foolishness kept hitting me over the head again in the 2nd half
This movie had some very inventive concepts, which I did like. The Beat-box as a language thing was hysterical. Well, the whole post office scene in general. Biz Markie is listed as "Rapping Alien" which I will let slide and they should have chosen from better takes for Markie's replies but I digress.
Hmmm the more I think about it, the more I will have to chalk this trilogy up to the "Matrix effect". The first episode was awesome the sequels? We could really do without, redeeming qualities or not.
"Your wife's on my Wham-O"